Sailing Matters 8th July 2026
Sailing Matters
Coming up (Sailing very soon):
SAT 11/7/26 COMMODORES CRUISE
FRI 17/7/26 ROUND HILBRE RACE
SAT 18/7/26 DEE SC REGATTA
SUN 19/7/26 WEST KIRBY SC REGATTA
——————————————————————————————————————————————————
IMPORTANT - Evening Race 3 in the Sailing Programme for this coming Saturday, is cancelled. It was a mistake in the planning.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————
Well we are pretty much half way through the season. I think it was a former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan who answered a question from a reporter - What blows a government off course? Events, dear boy, events was the reply. We sailors know a lot about events, our calendars are full of them. Not all of them are sailing and those that are, are not always possible to commit to. Choices have to be made. The weather naturally plays a critical part in our decision making. When theres a settled spell it makes life altogether a lot easier to commit to something, even to change ones mind from a casual maybe to right thats it Im doing it! Thats my stance on this coming Saturdays Commodores Cruise.
We, the Club, have already accomplished many events this season. Hats off to all those who have taken part, organised or helped in any way to make them happen. I attempt to cover events that make up our regular weekly sailing programme and those events that are one offs. Both types are important in their own way. The regular weekly events give sailors an opportunity to be in the habit of sailing regularly. For many this can be multiple sails a week. It can also be in different classes of boat. The One Offs require a different mindset. Planning, travel, timing, resolving boat issues, personal organisation etc. I went up to the Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy event at Ullswater last weekend. To Ullswater YC this event is like the Wilson Trophy event is to us. More on that later. Theres another annual event coming up - our Regatta. By the very nature of our geography (tide and lake) and our various classes, make the regatta a suitably diverse event to attract the maximum participation. We can pray for great conditions but as always we must make the best of what we are given. Lets enjoy it all and compare stories afterwards.
On with the Weekly Review:
Wednesday 1/7/26 HANDICAP RACING
An unpleasant forecast put off all but three brave souls from racing. The reality was that the forecast was accurate. Very gusty south westerly. Well done to Liz Potter (D-Zero), Owen Chambers (ILCA6) and Judith Carter for braving the elements. Two wins for Owen. Liz was grateful to round the course after her tiring exploits at the recent D-Zero Nationals in Scotland. Judith retired but at least had a go. No high PY competitors.
Thursday 2/7/26 GP, LIGHTNING and FIREFLY
At least the north westerly breeze was not as gusty as the previous night but the wind was still up. It was a match race between Kieron Inman, Paul Jenkins and Simon Harding, Paul Daniels. Two wins for the former team.
Kieron Inman and Paul Jenkins winners on Thursday evening 
Friday 3/7/26 OPTIMIST, JUNIOR HANDICAP and MIRROR
Westerly force 4.
OPTIMIST from Matt Geddes:
This week was boys club!
Mollie and Sophie chose to try out a Pico and Alice jumped ship into a Feva with Sophie Gatenby with some sibling rivalry playing out between those 2 and their respective younger sisters with Phoebe and Beatrice in a second Feva.
There was a good breeze again with the 4 boys (Theo, Seb, Ted and Henry) taking to the water in their Oppys.
Henry opted for some tuition rather than racing this week.
Theo won both races with Ted 2nd in the first race. Seb affirmed the notion that an oppy is basically a bath with a sail when he took a nose dive down wind and was found to be floating inside his boat! A good test of the boats buoyancy and Ali Pharoah's stamina when bailing it out!
The second race was a little less eventful with Henry crossing the line 2nd albeit with the help of a "full size" Instructor who had managed to fold himself into the Oppy with Henry! Seb and Ted both showed resilience in getting around a breezy course to finish the race neck and neck with Seb just pipping Ted to the line. Well done to all.
Would be great to see bigger numbers in the oppy fleet this Friday as a warm up for the West Kirby (Junior) Regatta on 17th. Speaking of which... please see the poster! The junior regatta will have a pirates of the Caribbean theme. All sailors are encouraged to dress accordingly and ensure they are appropriately armed with water pistols and the like. After the serious business of the regatta racing there'll be a no rules race during which weapons will be drawn and additional piracy related prizes awarded!!
All parents, Mirror fleet sailors, safety crew, flag officers etc are encouraged to join in along with anyone else who may be looking for an excuse to dust off the pirate outfit sat in the back of the wardrobe!
JUNIOR HANDICAP
Matt has covered the competitors above so just to record the results: Sophie Gatenby and Alice Pharoah won both races from Phoebe Gatenby and Beatrice Pharoah both in Fevas. Henry was out in a Pico and came 3rd in both races (according to the posted results in contradiction to Matts narrative above - I wonder who is right?!!)
MIRROR
Harry Goodwin-Marston crewing for his father recorded two wins. May and Elsie Chambers crewing for their Dad Owen were getting into Mirror racing coming 2nd in the first race. Four Mirrors competing.
Sunday 5/7/26 LIGHTNING OPEN EVENT, FAST and HIGH PY HANDICAP
LIGHTNING OPEN EVENT
The Lightning Open event this year on Sunday was back to being a one day event following another one day event at Shotwick SC the day before. Eight competitors enjoyed the westerly breeze blowing 12 knots and gusting up to 20 knots. Caroline Hollier from Basenthwaite SC narrowly won overall from Simon Hopkins from Up River YC (Essex) decided on the last race result which Caroline won. Amy Watkins was the top WKSC competitor coming 6th.
Lightning Open Event Sunday 
Caroline Hollier from Bassenthwaite SC the winner of the Lightning Open 
Even winners can sometimes be seen to cling on to the wreckage! 
HANDICAP
Tony Clark won the first race and came last in the second. Ioannis Koutsokeras won the second race and came last in the first ! Both sailing ILCA6s. But only 3 competitors in the first race. Jon Behan 2nd in the first race, Tom Green 2nd in the second race. Peter Davenport was the lone competitor in the High PY Handicap. He was successful though!
Sunday 5/7/26 FALCON SUMMER SERIES R4
Just one race in a gentle F2 northerly. Jonathan Atkinson and crew continued their winning ways from John Burthem and crew and Lee Matthews and crew third.
John Burthem and team racing on Sunday 
Falcons on Sunday 
——————————————————————————————————————————————————
The ONE OFF EVENTS:
The STAR CLASSIC BOAT CHALLENGE - Friday 3/7/26
West Kirby Sailing Club Star Class - Classic Boat Challenge 2026
The West Kirby Sailing Club Star Class annual Classic Boat Challenge was originally created to invite other clubs sailing classic wooden boats in the North West to come together, sail the iconic West Kirby Stars on the Dee estuary and generally have a good time sailing and talking all things classic boat.
Now in its third year, the initial date of 19th of June was blown off, but four teams came together on 3rd of July to take part in the rescheduled event.
Royal Mersey Yacht Club, Wallasey Yacht Club, and Conway Yacht Club were joined by a home team from West Kirby Sailing Club.
The day started with a briefing over coffee and cake and the draw for who would sail which boat. Conway Yacht Club drew no.6 Capella with pilot Nick Ledingham; West Kirby Sailing Club drew no.4, Carina, piloted by Dave Mayhew; no.12 Mercury was drawn by Royal Mersey Yacht Club, piloted by John Dowler and Wallasey Yacht Club sailed no.13 Orion piloted by Jane Sclater. The average age of the boats was well over 80 years!
The pilots escorted the crews across the beach in time to introduce the visitors to the boats and give rigging advice if necessary.
Stars on the beach photo by Bernie Hailwood 
Race officer Chris Riley assisted by Bernie Hailwood and accompanied by official photographer Alan Jenkins were out on the committee boat in time to set the first of two races
Conditions were dry and bright with a NW wind averaging 10kts but quite lumpy tidal water.
Close racing on the Dee photo by Alan Jenkins 
Spinnaker Stars photo by Bernie Hailwood 
Both races started into the wind followed by a downwind leg with spinnakers to test out the crews sail setting ability. In fact the Stars have what is known as a balloon jib which is flown inside the forestay.
Mercury in alignment photo by Alan Jenkins 
Race 2 conveniently finished very close to the moorings as the ebbing tide required speedy de-rigging and exit via rib to the shore. There was close competition between Stars 4, 6 and 13 followed admirably by Star 12. Star 4 Carina helmed by Mike Hartley of WKSC, sailing on home ground, was eventually the overall winner.
Overall winner, Mike Hartley with the Helmsman's Cup photo by Alan Jenkins 
A splendid buffet was laid on back at the clubhouse and during refreshments several of the visitors took advantage of a tour of the boatsheds and were able to see the successful maintenance work being done on three Stars currently ashore.including no. 11 Mars which was built built in 1949 and which has recently received a full overhaul by Jean-Louis Simons (See picture). There is a considerable amount of pride in the Star fleet at West Kirby. During the winter months the boats are kept indoors and are worked on by owners and enthusiastic volunteers. The Star Association has encouraged many new sailors this summer with a view to mentoring some to become helms so that more of the Stars can be sailed more often.
Mars refurbishment photo by Alan Jenkins 
Mars in the boatshed photo by Alan Jenkins 
The LORD BIRKETT MEMORIAL TROPHY - Ullswater - Saturday and Sunday 4&5/7/26
Despite a forecast of 16 knots gusting to 29 knots it wasnt anything like that windy. True - there were some vicious gusts but nothing too bad. It was the notorious wind shifts that proved tricky!
With 230 boats on a start line that spans the lake its not surprising that there were going to be some general recalls. Four though is challenging for competitors. Somewhere in the middle of all that one of the lake steamers steamed through the start line! Needless to say that caused a postponement while the debris was cleared! No - I joke - there was no damage and no one was injured.
The Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy race 1 Saturday From the steamer plunging into the middle of the fleet to cause mayhem
Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy Race 1 Film.mov
I was on a smaller steamer watching all the action. There was a period after the start in the narrows; the wind went light and very shifty. The steamer managed to get in the middle of the fleet and instead of moving gently through, stopped, went astern, then ahead, causing mayhem to competitors. Our Liz Potter, sailing her Contender, very nearly collided with it, missed it by inches. This period in the race enabled slower boats on PY the opportunity, if sailed well, to be well placed on corrected time - a Wayfarer was second.
There were five boats from WKSC competing: Andrew and Liz Bell (Albacore) Andrew Potter (Phantom), Liz Potter (Contender), Al Alston and Steve Fleming (International Canoes). Their experiences varied from Well Ive done that and I wont be doing it again to until the next time then !. Our two ICs competing were there with eight other ICs travelling from Plymouth, Norfolk, Aberdeen and central south coast.
The inspiration for the IC turnout was Sam Barker who until recently ran Ovingtons Portland production facility building Int.14s and other high performance craft. He was sailing his latest IC which has been built very light so as to be able to take an asymmetric kite in due course. There was a loud bang just after the start and the slide and carriage went over the side. Amazingly, he managed to get it all back in place out on the water and continue but the weakness was there, he could see some unpleasant flexing in the deck area where the slide carriage was secured so was forced to retire. He borrowed a Musto Skiff for Sundays race and won.
Overall, this is a great event. The entry was full when closed two months before the event. Its an easy venue for camping and motor homes. The club is welcoming. Sailing with so many boats is something else. Definitely worth a go but it can be frustrating. Who wouldnt want to win such an event ? Who won overall? A 49er with a 7th and 3rd, 2nd Int.14 with a 1st and a 10th, 3rd Wayfarer with a 2nd and a 18th, 4th Javelin 13th, 7th.
Just before the start at the Lord Birkett Ullswater 
Steve Fleming at the Birkett 
Steve trying the IC the other way up but the daggerboard doesnt generate enough power as a sail. 
ICs and ACs at the Birkett 
DART 18 WORLDS, CARNAC, FRANCE
Jean-Louis Simons and Steve Jardine are competing in the Dart18 Worlds at the Yacht Club de Carnac, France which finishes tomorrow. Light airs have been suffered all week. Jean-Louis sent this report yesterday:
Dart 18 World Championship in Carnac. Mid week report. 5th RS400 11th, 14th.
The competitors have prayed, they have danced, they have cooked some weird things but the wind just said Non, a plutard!! (For those linguistically challenged use AI, otherwise known as Anthony Idle!)
On Monday we aimed for a 14.00 start time, so 12.00 in the boatpark. stayed in the boat park all day and eventually got send home at 18.00. AP over A.
On Tuesday, published start time at 14.30, postponement flag at 13.30, eventually fed up waiting, I went for a sail at 15.30, with the fleet send out at 17.00. It was very silly as the course had wind inshore and nothing offshore. (What the scobidoo happened to sea breezes??). So get out of the start by the committee boat end, turn right … and that is what 140+ Darts tried to do on a small 0.8 mile course. It became a total procession. Someone told me this morning that he had not yet recovered from yesterdays carnage, having been hit three times. But the organisers got a race in!!
Again at the start, they postponed the race with seconds to go as no doubt they could not see the sailnumbers of those over the line. Imagine à Line of 140+ Darts, no bow numbers… A récipé for Darters to take advantage. Well… those who took advantage again got punished, allowing the fatties to have their best results yet, as many BFD are now on the result board.
I saw a French guy wearing a Breton cap saying Ze Froggies I thought I had found a Guy with a sense of humour. I asked him in my best French are you enjoying English humour but he just did not reply and kept a glazed look on his face. Obviously my French needs more work.
On Wednesday, start time at 16.00. Shockingly the postponement flag went up at around 15.00. We eventually got send out at 17.00 and send back ashore again at 18.00. At least it was warm, sunny and a very pleasant sail.
Tomorrow, just heard the first signal is at 08.15! I am meeting my long suffering crew at 06.15 .
I am seriously thinking of over indulging as I have tried everything else and failed. I even tried red wine last night as I read somewhere that red wine does not have as much calories than some of the whites?!? She who is always right quickly stated that this theory is rubbish if you then add a sizeable amount of Breton Tomme and the same amount of Brie! One day I swear, Ill have the last word!!!!!!
———————————————————————————————
Well get an overview from Jean-Louis when he gets back.
———————————————————————————————
CONWAY YC REGATTA 3-5/7/26
Mal Jones and team raced their Falcon at Conway YC Regatta Fri-Sun 3-5/7/26. A lot of effort has been put into this event and pleasing to report that the local council has fully supported it. The courses sailed were out in open water in Conway Bay as well as in the river - good for sailors and spectators alike. I will try and obtain more info and pics for next week. Good venues are hard to come by and worthy of support.
420 WORLDS BISCAROSSE, FRANCE 3-11/7/26
Eve Bromilow, Tom Underwood, Edie Rogers, Isobel Sandow, Patrick Bromilow, Neil Marsden and Olivia Creasy competing. Latest news: Neil Marsden is coming 4th after 2 days racing. Last day of qualifying was yesterday to see who makes the gold fleet.
470 JUNIOR (U24) WORLDS GDYNIA, POLAND 11-17/7/26
470s. David Bromilow and Arwen Fflur are off to Gdynia, Poland for Junior (U24) Worlds and then to Nida, Lithuania for the Junior Euros. David setting off driving RYA van with four 470s on Friday 3/7/26 from Weymouth.
LASTLY dont forget the Commodores Cruise this Saturday - great forecast for a day out on the Hoyle Bank. Take plenty of water and suncream. Leaving the slip around 08:30 to 09:00 returning some 12 hours later. I plan to sail a Mirror…. any other Mirror sailors care for a days adventure?
Then the ROUND HILBRE RACE Friday 17/7/26 SIs coming up during the week. JUNIOR REGATTA Fri evening.
DEE SC REGATTA 18/7/26 - See Poster
WKSC REGATTA 19/7/26 - See Poster
Tony Marston
Sailing Secretary
Last updated 13:22 on 14 July 2026